Program Operations Manual System (POMS)

Dependents and survivors benefits generally may not be paid to aliens who have been outside the United States for more than 6 months and who first became eligible for benefits after 1984, unless they satisfy certain U.S. residency requirements (5-year residency rule).

Citizens or residents of a country with which the United States has a Totalization agreement are exempt from these requirements unless the agreement includes a limitation on the exemption. The U.S.-Irish agreement does not contain a limitation. Therefore, Irish citizens, regardless of where they reside, and residents of Ireland are exempt from these requirements.